The New Black

Ugh! So I think my hair has been breaking lately. When I pull it back the top looks frizzy. I've figured out I can get my ponytails fairly smooth by detangling my hair and pulling it back directly under the shower stream. But that isn't working anymore.

I've made a few changes to my routine. Which of these do you think could be causing the breakage:
*Bentonite clay mask (w/ACV) for 30-60 mins...I've only done this 2 times, one week apart
*Clarify with baking soda in diluted shampoo (Motions), weekly
*Ponytail rollersets, also done twice

I'd gotten into the habit of deep conditioning, but I haven't done that lately besides the bentonite. So I KNOW I need to start doing that again.

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No MAS.

I am the new Black.

"HIV is a complex mother. Trust me I've written multiple papers and even a rap song about it." Murrcat aka Turtles

"Hope the Mail are saving space tomorrow for Samantha Brick's reaction piece on the reactions to her piece about the reactions to her piece." ~ Tweet reposted by Rou.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Kimshi4242

Cerendipity

why do you clarify weekly?

The New Black

Because I never used to clarify at all. And I realized I had a lot of buildup. I use a lot of product still, so I'm just trying to keep my scalp/hair clean now. Is weekly too often?

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No MAS.

I am the new Black.

"HIV is a complex mother. Trust me I've written multiple papers and even a rap song about it." Murrcat aka Turtles

"Hope the Mail are saving space tomorrow for Samantha Brick's reaction piece on the reactions to her piece about the reactions to her piece." ~ Tweet reposted by Rou.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Kimshi4242

Cerendipity

What kind of products are you using that's so heavy that you need to do it weekly?

do you style your hair daily , or are you styling weekly and moisturizing everyday? Even if youre moisturizing every day, you shouldnt have that much buildup that you need to clarify weekly? Maybe cut it to biweekly?

I use a lot of butter products and I only clarify monthly, I do wash weekly but its either a regular shampoo bar, cleansing conditioner , or cowash.

The New Black

Yeah, I style daily or almost daily. I generally use Suave Naturals coconut as a co-wash, detangler and styler. It used to be great for WnGs. But now that my hair is longer and bigger, I don't like the Suave as much. I need/want something that defines my curls better and de-volumizes it. I don't like my hair when it's too big.

When I wear my hair pulled back I used EcoStyler olive oil to keep the top in place. Sometimes I rake the gel throughout my entire head. That gives great definition, but it also
a) takes too long
b) makes me rip my hair out as I rake it through
c) takes forever to dry
d) makes my hair crunchy


I guess I don't technically do much that's specifically for moisturizing. Hmmm...I just recently started sealing my ends with castor oil.

__________________
No MAS.

I am the new Black.

"HIV is a complex mother. Trust me I've written multiple papers and even a rap song about it." Murrcat aka Turtles

"Hope the Mail are saving space tomorrow for Samantha Brick's reaction piece on the reactions to her piece about the reactions to her piece." ~ Tweet reposted by Rou.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Kimshi4242

Chicago Kinks

Sounds like you need to use a moisturizer either via a leave in or a hair milk.

Have you tried the prayer method when putting gel in your hair? I don't rake because I was pulling my hair out...with the prayer method my curls are weighed down, I'm getting the roots and ends evenly and I'm not losing a bunch of hair. The trick is to make sure to use a slippery leave in, Tresseme Naturals is great, cheap and moisturizing.

...i'm supersonic

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**sophisticated ignorance, I type my cuss words in cursive**

Current Rotation (always changing): Curl Junkie Curl Rehab as my Leave-In, Blended Beauty Happy Nappy Styles, Entwine Argan Oil, Bobeam Shampoo Bars, QB CTDG and QB AHTB, UFD Curly Magic, B.A.S.K Anything.


http://www.platinumpj.com
http://www.facebook.com/PlatinumPJ
@PlatinumPJ

The New Black

Hmm...the prayer method. I'd never heard of it but just looked it up. I'll try that. Thanks, everyone, for the recs!!

__________________
No MAS.

I am the new Black.

"HIV is a complex mother. Trust me I've written multiple papers and even a rap song about it." Murrcat aka Turtles

"Hope the Mail are saving space tomorrow for Samantha Brick's reaction piece on the reactions to her piece about the reactions to her piece." ~ Tweet reposted by Rou.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Kimshi4242

coilynapp

WHOA Phoenix!!!!!

Baking soda AND shampoo? ACV? All of that is super drying. Bentonite itself is clarifying and not moisturizing. I think you are doing too much drying to your hair and not enough moisturizing.

You need to cut back on that and start using more moisturizing products. If your hair is brittle and dry it will break.

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Cerendipity

and that gel has protein in it\

it always breaks the back of my hair off and the very front if im not too careful

Kinky DaySha

IMO, if you aren't using products with silicones and petroleum/mineral oil, even once a month should be adequate. Also, if you are dcing, you need a really moisturizing dc to balance all the stripping you're doing.

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Last perm 8/07, big chop 5/08, several mini chops since
Fine, medium density, low porosity. PJ in recovery
Current loves:Tressemme Nats, AO GPB, One and Only Argan Oil Hydrating Mask, Alba Botanicals Leave-in, KCKT, Qhemet BRBC & OHHB, Terresentials Mud Wash, Trader Joes Nourish Spa
"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Gandhi

The New Black

This is all food for thought. Thanks! I got some Tresemme Nat. I'll cut down on the clarifying and step up the moisture. Glad I asked!

__________________
No MAS.

I am the new Black.

"HIV is a complex mother. Trust me I've written multiple papers and even a rap song about it." Murrcat aka Turtles

"Hope the Mail are saving space tomorrow for Samantha Brick's reaction piece on the reactions to her piece about the reactions to her piece." ~ Tweet reposted by Rou.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Kimshi4242

adthomas

I have noticed that when older people get mad they want to pull that "little girl" card. Don't think you can just say whatever you want to me and I am going to go along with it because I'm young. I don't care about you calling "little girl" because that just makes you look immature when I haven't called you anything. But if I were you "old a$$ mare" your feelings would be hurt.

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Transition your mind before you transition your hair.

Parissy198907

^^^ are you in the right thread?

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The New Black

LOL...ok yeah she is in the wrong thread. But I was just thinking about the same topic today, which is a very weird coincidence.

__________________
No MAS.

I am the new Black.

"HIV is a complex mother. Trust me I've written multiple papers and even a rap song about it." Murrcat aka Turtles

"Hope the Mail are saving space tomorrow for Samantha Brick's reaction piece on the reactions to her piece about the reactions to her piece." ~ Tweet reposted by Rou.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Kimshi4242

BlackAngelPlayah

Girl, wrong door! LoL!


😜🍸Sent LIVE from my JPhone 4s using some CurlTalk app. 😜🍸

http://AfroCurls.wordpress.com

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FroZen

adthomas

Oh Lord. That man made me so mad I'm up here venting in the wrong thread. LOL.


But I did want to say I have to clarify ever week. No cones but I use a lot of leave in, heavy oils, gels. My hair is quick to get greasy and my hair won't absorb well if it is not clean so using a shampoo with cocomidropropyl (sp?) betaine works well. I actually like my hair to feel slightly stripped because my dcs do much better. I am probably going to add another midweek shampoo but one that is gentler. I think if you have buildup problem then doing all that extra stuff every week seems like overkill. I used baking soda on my hair once or twice and both times it was a dryness disaster. I told myself never again.

__________________
Transition your mind before you transition your hair.

coilynapp

^^^yea, a regular shampoo will work. I also think a regular non SLS shampoo will work to remove cones and styling polymers (I haven't tested this because I don't use cones). You just need to use a good shampoo.

I use a non sls shampoo once a week. Baking soda works well too (1tablespoon only in 1 litre of water)--I have never had dryness from baking soda. I just use a conditioner afterwards. I haven't done it in a while because I mostly use my shampoo during wash days.

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The New Black

Man, natural hair care is getting so complicated. For me anyway...

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No MAS.

I am the new Black.

"HIV is a complex mother. Trust me I've written multiple papers and even a rap song about it." Murrcat aka Turtles

"Hope the Mail are saving space tomorrow for Samantha Brick's reaction piece on the reactions to her piece about the reactions to her piece." ~ Tweet reposted by Rou.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Kimshi4242

coilynapp

It doesn't have to become complicated

my routine isn't anyway. Goodluck on turning your hair around

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The New Black

So...Ive been reading a bit about hair and pH. I didn't realize how alkaline baking soda is and how bad that is for the hair! Ugh... that would account for some of the damage I did. I'm getting a hair cut tomorrow. Maybe that'll help.

__________________
No MAS.

I am the new Black.

"HIV is a complex mother. Trust me I've written multiple papers and even a rap song about it." Murrcat aka Turtles

"Hope the Mail are saving space tomorrow for Samantha Brick's reaction piece on the reactions to her piece about the reactions to her piece." ~ Tweet reposted by Rou.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Kimshi4242